O’Connor signs for Toulon

Wallabies star James O’Connor has signed for French Top 14 giant Toulon.

Toulon coach Bernard Laporte has confirmed that O’Connor will join the star-studded side next season, according to French newspaper Var-Matin.

O'Connor was forced to relocate to Europe following several off-the-field misdemeanours, such as the incident in which O'Connor was escorted out of Perth airport for being drunk and argumentative. He was offloaded by the Melbourne Rebels and had his Australia contract cancelled.

There are no details on the duration of the contract with Toulon, but it's likely that the move will put O'Connor's World Cup ambitions in doubt, as Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has stated that any player wishing to play in the World Cup must represent an Australian state in 2015.

The deal will also see the 23-year-old link up again with former Australian team-mates Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell, along with some big-name South Africans, such as Bryan Habana, Bakkies Botha, and Juan Smith.

O’Connor is currently playing with London Irish in the English Premiership, and will remain there until the end of the season.